light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers$319.66/cwt-43.98 vs last sale · ≈ $1,975/hd at 618 lb · 85 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers$356.51/cwt+7.61 vs last sale · ≈ $2,719/hd at 763 lb · 79 head
light 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers$323.50/cwt≈ $2,730/hd at 844 lb · 61 head
Lexington, KY (Tuesday) 7-weight steers sold at $353/cwt, $13/cwt above the KY average ($340) and the highest of the 4 yards reporting the class. KY 7-weight steers are down $24/cwt from their early August peak of $365.
What this means — computed from this report and its neighbors
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
465
839
1,981
Feeder cattle
441
806
1,859
Slaughter cattle
23
32
117
Replacement cattle
1
1
5
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last Tuesday the feeder market was spotty and uneven with an average but highly variable quality offering. Feeder steers 300 lbs and under appeared firm with a lite test, while the 450-650 lbs steers were 5.00 to 10.00 lower or greater with spotty demand. Feeder heifers 350-600 lbs were steady to 5.00 higher with a moderate supply and good demand for quality calves. Slaughter cows and bulls were mostly steady with a lite test.
▲ Feeder heifers: Feeder heifers 350-600 lbs were steady to 5.00 higher with a moderate supply and good demand for quality calves
▼ Feeder steers: while the 450-650 lbs steers were 5.00 to 10.00 lower or greater with spotty demand
→ Slaughter bulls: Slaughter cows and bulls were mostly steady with a lite test
→ Slaughter cows: Slaughter cows and bulls were mostly steady with a lite test
900–949 lb Medium and Large 1-2 steers — head-weighted average $/cwt by sale date, last 12 months.
Reading this report
What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?
USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of
the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is
muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle
scores — common across the Southeast.
What is $/cwt?
Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at
$450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per
cwt but less per head.
Why are some prices per head?
Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the
head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a
$/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.
Where do these numbers come from?
From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News —
federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the
official USDA document at the top of the page.
Cattle Market
Compared to last Tuesday the feeder market was spotty and uneven with an average but highly variable quality offering. Feeder steers 300 lbs and under appeared firm with a lite test, while the 450-650 lbs steers were 5.00 to 10.00 lower or greater with spotty demand. Feeder heifers 350-600 lbs were steady to 5.00 higher with a moderate supply and good demand for quality calves. Slaughter cows and bulls were mostly steady with a lite test.